BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL, YOU!

Running away from God

“ The word of the Lord came to Jonah… But Jonah ran away from the Lord… Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up.”

Jonah 1:1,3,4

If your life is in a complete whirlwind of stress, confusion, and fear right now; if your life seems cluttered, out of order and going in circles, then maybe it’s time to stop and listen, LISTEN, to God… there is a good chance he’s just trying to get your attention.

Examine your motives - test your heart.

Before any decision is made, word or accusation is spoken, remember to, 

Examine your motives, test your heart  (1 Corinthians 11:23-26 MSG; Jeremiah 17:10 ), because keeping your mouth closed and focusing your attention on God is the best decision you can make at the moment.  Otherwise, and many of us have learned this the hard way, you may say or do something you truly regret.

Guidance from God

Words of God’s wisdom from Luke 6, MSG:

“… Your task is to be true, not popular.” (26)

“… Love your enemies.  Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst.” (27-30)

“… Don’t condemn… be easy on people…” (37-38)

“… Give away your life; you'll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. … Giving, not getting, is the way…” (37-38)

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Maybe one of these grabs your attention more than the others – focus on it.  Ask God, pray, and let him do the changing within you.

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Shortcuts to God

"Don't look for shortcuts to God... The way to life - to God! - is vigorous and requires total attention... serious obedience - doing what My Father wills..." Matthew 7:13-14, 21-23 MSG

There are no shortcuts to God - to Life - a real and amazing life!  What's required is you, genuine you and total obedience and attention to Him.  Those requirements will bring you the miracles, promises, blessings, and abundances found and promised in His Word. 

So, be YOU; let go of your focus on the world, and turn your focus on God and everything else will simply fall into place for you.

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Want to live in victory?

Want to live in victory: light, peace, prosperity, joy, contentment, ease...; love??  Yes??

Then, stop paying attention to the world and start paying attention to God.

It is that simple!

Jen Caudle 4/23/17

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Insults are from man, not God

"...Pay no attention to insults, and when mocked

don't let it get you down.

Those insults and mockeries are moth-eaton,

from brains that are termite-ridden..."

Isaiah 51:7-8 MSG

Insults are from man, not God.  Therefore, shake them off - they aren't worth your time or worry!  

You are God's child, you are made for greatness, and wasting your time on what others say about you will only delay your God-given destiny.

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You can depend on God

"Those who fear God get God's attention;

they can depend on his strength."

Psalm 147:11

When you are a child of God you can rest assure you won't be forgotten and you will not be defeated -God will give you the strength you need at the exact moment you need it.

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Ignoring the advice

… God sent prophets to straighten them out, warning of judgment.  But nobody paid attention…” +2 Chronicles 24:17-19, MSG

When you’ve hear the same advice, criticism, or warning from more than one trusted, reliable, educated person, then maybe it is time to listen – maybe God is trying to tell you something.  So now would be a great time to seek God and ask him to show, (tell), you what your next steps should be, otherwise you might end up kicking yourself in the fanny for ignoring the warnings.

Proverbs 30:32-33

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Conceit

"Don't call attention to yourself; let others do that for you." Proverbs 27:2

In other words: Don't float your own boat unless you want to sink; don't honk your own horn unless you want to cause unnecessary crashes.

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God is there

1 Kings 19:11-12The Message (MSG)

^11-12 Then he was told, “Go, stand on the mountain at attention before God. God will pass by.”

A hurricane wind ripped through the mountains and shattered the rocks before God, but God wasn’t to be found in the wind; after the wind an earthquake, but God wasn’t in the earthquake; and after the earthquake fire, but God wasn’t in the fire; and after the fire a gentle and quiet whisper.

Many times we will see and hear God through the big storms and miracles of life.  However, most of the time we can only hear him when we stand quietly and wait for him.  So, take time every day to be quiet before God.  No,  you may not hear him every time, but you will feel him in your presence.  As well, if you look closely, you will find him everywhere you are.

So, look around – God is there; listen – God is speaking; stand still – God is holding you.

The Message (MSG)

Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

 

 

Give your life, daily, as an offering to God

"... Take your everyday, ordinary life... and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.  Don't become so well adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking.  Instead, fix your attention on God.  You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you and quickly respond to it... God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you." Romans 12:1-2

 

Take yourself and your life out of this world, and give it, daily, over to God.  If you do, you will find that there is more to life than you have ever thought imaginable or possible.  

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Keep your heart open.

"... and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said ..." Acts 16:14 AMP

Ask God to keep your heart open to the voices around you.  I believe that too many words are ignored or discounted when they, in fact, could be the words God wants you to hear in order for your breakthrough to come to pass.  

So, ask God to let your ears hear what He wants you to hear, and when someone speaks words that touch the depths of your heart, then that may be your clue to act upon them. 

Stay awake; watch and pray!

“All of you must keep awake (give strict attention, be cautious and active) and watch and pray, that you may not come into temptation.  The spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41

Temptation will come, but God gives us power to overcome.  How?  With His spirit! With His Word! With His love! With His grace!!  Although we are of the flesh, we are still God’s children, and when we stay focused on Him, we will quickly be able to fight off temptation when it comes. However, being of the flesh, if we do lose focus on Him, we will find that we quickly fall into temptation, and once we do, we go into a downward spiral that takes us a long time to climb back out of.  Therefore, keep your eyes on God, with prayer, time, and devotion so that no matter what temptation comes, you have all the Strength you need to pass it right up.

Is God trying to get your attention?

“Now the Lord had prepared and appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah…” Jonah 1:17

Have you ever found yourself in a situation asking, “How in the world did I get myself into this?  Why is this happening?” If so, then instead of trying to figure it out on your own, maybe you should ask God.  There could be a darn good chance that He is trying to get your attention, and putting you in a desperate situation is the only way He could get you out of yourself long enough to call on Him.  Take some time with God, and see what He places in your heart; maybe you’ve been trying to avoid something, or someone, you know you need to confront, or tell the truth about something your hiding, or even being bold enough to take a huge step of faith?? Essentially, is there something that you know God wants you to do, but you aren’t doing it?

I believe the reason we find ourselves in peculiar, stressful, hard-pressed situations, is so that we finally cry out to God!  Friends, God loves us so much, and when He places thoughts, actions, etc., on our hearts, He wants us to take action – obey!  So, before you get into a desperate situation, do what God is telling you to do – life will be so much more peaceful and blessed.  However, if you are currently in a hopeless, desperate situation, then don’t worry!  Grab hold to God, repent, and thank Him for caring for you enough to get your attention.  From there, as you walk forward with Him, His amazing glory and grace will thrust you from the depths of darkness, onto the mountain tops on high!  Your desperation will soon come to an end!

Follow the Spirit

“… wherever the Spirit would go they went, and they turned not when they went.” Ezekiel 1:12

Follow God’s spirit no matter which way He goes; He knows where He’s going, He Knows where to take you, and He knows how to get you there safely.

As humans, we easily get side-tracked, so attention to Him at all times is of vital necessity. Don’t get lost in the world, stay on God’s tail at all times!  How? By staying focused on His Word, reading and praying over His Word, listening to and following His promptings in your heart, and by taking big, bold, steps of faith!  Consequently, if you let yourself lose Him, the harshness, destruction, and darkness of the word will drag you down, the blessings that were once yours become lost in the crowd, and you become fleshly prey for Satan as he waits for the perfect timing to swallow you up.  So, make sure your focus is on the right One at all times, in all situations, for every need, want, prayer, and desire ~ your life depends on it!!

Diligence and Care

"... this work goes on with diligence and care and prospers in their hands." +Ezra 5:8

Diligence, (perseverance, hard work), and care, (concern, attention, regard, and effort), will lead to prosperity and success. 

Hence, laziness, cutting corners, and disregard are guaranteed to lead to failure. 

Live your life with diligence and care, and watch prosperity and success become your living legacy. 

---Praise sweet Jesus!!